Switch box securing device



Aug. 9, 1938. B. R. JETT 2,126,114

SWITCH BOX SECURING DEVICE Filed Oct. 13, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 9, 1938. B. R. JETT 2,126,114

v SWITCH BOX SECURING DEVICE Filed Oct. 13, 1956 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 9, 1938 UNlTED- sires ton, D. C;

, Application This invention relates to certain improvements in switch boxholding or securing means and more h structed of sheet metal adapted to cooperate with l the conventional wall switch box and wall, whereby said'switch box may be tightlyand-rigidly secured to walls of various thicknesses and construe tion, such as lath and plaster walls, wall board, wood'panelin'g' and the like.

The usual practice, in new buildings is toleave openings in the walls atthe desired locations and provide for the use of belts or screws to secure the switch boxes in said openings, but this is not entirely satisfactory and sometimes difficult to accomplish without the loss of considerable-time in making the necessary adjustments;

, This-problem becomes even more difficult where switch boxes are to be installed in the walls of 'g new, openings to be cut box will be automatically locked to the wall by a 0 wall and witheutrequiring theuse ofbolts, nails, screws and the like. A t-the sametirnethe switch box may be quickly re moved when desired with,-

oftools.

A further object is the production of a device or devices of the character ndicated simple in manufactured on a quantity production basis at alow'c o-stw Another object is the provision. of a securingdevice for wall switch boxes that will automatically adjust itself to walls of various types of construction.

preferably a sheetmetal inember adapted to be inserted along each side of the'switch box betweensaid switch box and the adjacent sides of the'jwall opening, said devices being so shaped as to engage the outer side edges of the switch box and the inner face of the wall at the switch box opening, the peculiar construction of said looking devices producing a wedging or cam action between these parts upon a longitudinal movement of said devices.

The preferred embodiment oi the invention is particularly toa plate-like device preferably conlongitudinal movement of the'device irrespective i of the thicknessorpartijcular construction of the out distortion or mutilation and without the use construction and design and capablelof being thicknesses and Briefly stated, the instant inventien'comprises PATENT I OFFIC'ETY i r 2,126,114 7 ie a SWITCH BOX SECURING DEVICE Bernard H. Jett Washington, D. 0., assignor of one-half to Clarence E. Whitmore, Washing- October 13, 1936, Serial No. 105,431 5 Claims. -(Cl. 247 -21) illustrated in the accompanying drawings; in which e A i Figure 1 is substantially .a full size view .of one of the securing devices for use in connection with a thin wall; i Figure 2 is a similar view of the securingde vice altered to adapt the same to a thick wall; 7 ,v .FigureB is a plan view illustrating the securing devices in operative position with respect to the switch box and wall;

Figure 4 is a view inside elevation more clearly illustrating the securing devices in operative position in connection witha thick wall; f s Figure 5i1lustrates the manner of applying, the device; and Figurefi shows the use bination with a lath and plaster wall. H i detail the inf; Pr fer b w each "provided Referring to the drawings in proved securing means comprise sheet metal plates or the like I,

of the device m 0 with a transversely extending.hook-like exten sionZ formed intermediate the ends therebffadjacent, a shouldered or recessed portion 3, the horizontal engaging edge surface of the shouldered portion extending to one end of the plate-like devices as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2.

i The opposite end of the device is provided with;

a sloping or cam-like edge surface 4; terminating in a relatively narrow reduced end portion 5. The opposite end 6 of the device, provided withfthe shoulder 3, is relatively wide and is constructed with a series of horizontal grooves or the like,

producing weakened portions T connected by a vertical groove or the like 8, said weakened'portion permitting the device to be used in connection with walls of various thicknesses in a manner to be hereinafter more fully described.

Referring to Figure 3 there is' shown the conventional or standardswitch-box 9, having the usujal" securing angle clips or ears H1 and the cover plate (not shown) securing extensions It; The box. is shown positioned in the wan :2, the proper opening i3 being providedin the wall to' receive th'e box. This opening is made slightly wider than the box, to receive each side thereof, one, of the securing devices I, the hook-like exg tensions 2 thereof adapted to engage the opposite side edges of the switch box and the shouldered portion 3 and the cam portion 4 01" each device positioned to engage the inner face of the wall,

' as more clearly shown in Figure 4.

' 3, being first the cooperative relation 30 nesses, and this is I said device with the horizontally arranged grooves used, wherein the sary toremove one however, affects the a thin wall, which might be either wall board or a panel wall, but it is to be understood that operation and function of the device is the same in connection with walls of various thicknesses.

After the box is positioned in the wall opening the securing device I is inserted between the side of the switch box and the side of the wall opening, the end 6, having the shouldered portion inserted until the'hook-like extension 2 is in engagement with the outer edge of the switch box 9 (see Figure and with this point as a fulcrum the end 5 is moved downwardly until the securing devicel is in a horizontal position, whereupon a forward longitudinal movement of said device will wedge the cam surface 4 into engagement with the inner face of the wall at one end of the box, and the shouldered end portion 3 will also be forced against the inner surface'of the wall at the opposite end of the box securely clamping the switch box in position as clearly shown in dotted lines'in Figure 5.

It is to be understood that two of these securing'devices l are used, one on each side of the switch box, and Figures '3 and 4 illustrate clearly of a pair of said devices in locked or operative position.

I As hereinbefore stated the device lis adaptable for use in connection with walls of various thickaccomplished by providing producing weakened portion 1 (see Figs. 1 and 2) connected by vertical groove 8. On thin walls the device as'illustrated in Figures 1 and 5 is end 6 is of full width. On thickness it is only necesor. more of the weakened portions as illustrated in Figure 2'. Figures 4 and 6 show the device as used with thick walls wherein the shoulder portion 3 is relatively deep owing to the removal .of a number of the Weakened portions of the'end 6.

When the device is used in connection with lath and plaster walls, it may be desirable to reverse the ears I 0 of the switch box so that said ears may rest on the lath instead of the plaster as shown in Figure 6. This in no way,

walls of increasing device. I I

In order to obtain. possibly-a more positive holding ofthe devicesl the cam surface 4 may be provided with a rough surface and this rough surface will automatically be produced in the shoulder portion 3 as the weakened portions are removedas illustrated in Figure 2.

What I claim is:

1. A device for securing an outlet box in a wall opening. comprising a substantially fiat sheet metal member, a hook-like portion on one side edge of said member for engagement with the outer side edge of saidoutlet box, a recessed shouldered portion formed on one end of said member for engagement with the inner face of the wall adjacent the Wall opening at one end of the box and a cam portion provided on the other end of said member for engagement with the inner edge of the wall opening adjacent the other end of the box, whereby said box will be rigidly operation of the locking locked in the wall opening upon a longitudinal sliding movement of said member.

2. A device for securing an outlet box in a wall opening, comprising a substantially fiat sheet metal member, a hook-like portion on one side edge of said member intermediate the ends thereof for sliding engagement with the outer side edge of said outlet box, a recessed shouldered portion formed on one end of saidmember for engagement with the inner face of the wall adjacent the wall opening 'at one end of the box and a cam portion provided on the other end of said member for engagement with the inner edge of the wall opening adjacent the other end of the box, whereby said box will be rigidly locked in the wall opening upon a longitudinal sliding movement of said member.

3. A device for securing an outlet box in a wall opening, comprising a substantially fiat sheet metal member, a hook-like portion on one side edge of said member for engagement with the outer side edge of said outlet box, a recessed shouldered portion formed on one end of said member for engagement with the inner face of the wall adjacent the wall opening at one end of the box, said shouldered portion being provided with parallel longitudinal grooves producing removable weakened portions to vary the depth of said shouldered portions and a cam portion provided on the other end of said member for engagement with the inner edgeof the wall opening adjacent the other end of the box, whereby said box will be rigidly locked in the wall opening upon a longitudinal sliding movement of said member.

4. A device for securing an outlet box in a wall opening, comprising a substantially flat sheet metal member, a hook-like portion on one side edge of said member for engagement with the outer side edge of said outlet box, a recessed shouldered portion formed on one end of said member for engagement with the inner face of the Wall adjacent the wall opening atone end of the box and a cam portion having a rough engaging surface provided on the other end of said member for engagement with the inner edge of the wall opening adjacent the other end of the box, whereby said box will be rigidly locked in the wall opening upon a longitudinal sliding movement of said member.

5. The combination with an outlet box and a wall opening therefor, of a pair of rigid locking members for said box interposed between the side walls of the box and the sides of the opening, a rigid hook-like portion on one side edge of each member for engagement with therrespective outer side edges of said outlet box, a recessed shouldered portion formed on one end of each of said members for engagement with the inner face of the wall adjacent the Wall opening at one end of the box and a cam portion provided on the other end of each of said members for engagement with the inner edge of the wall opening adjacent the other end of the box, whereby said box will be rigidly wedged into locking engagement with the wall opening upon a longitudinal sliding movement of said members.

BERNARD R. JETT.. 

